The Royals had a day off as they traveled home from Toronto. The team found themselves in a bit of odd scheduling: three games in Canada before returning home, but only for three games against Boston before heading out on the road again, this time for nine games. And with a rainout of the first game in Toronto, this was Kansas City’s second idle day in the last four.

Boston was coming to Kansas City fresh off a series win in Chicago. It was the first series loss for the White Sox on the season after winning their first five; not surprisingly, that had Chicago in first place in the AL West, 1.5 games ahead of the Royals. Meanwhile, Boston was 9-9 on the season but only a half-game out of first place in the AL East.

1980 news alert: The Department of Labor announced the unemployment rate had reached 7% in April, up from 6.2% in March and its highest level since August 1977. Over seven million Americans were jobless. With inflation running at 18 percent, economic indicators were pointing to a recession.

Today’s birthdays: Jose Lind (1964), Phil Hiatt (1969)